On our last outing we decided to visit the not so much heard about place Kanatal in Uttaranchal .
Next morning we were out and driving towards our destination. The route is not much of a hassle and by 3 p.m. we were where we had to. On the way we did see some beautiful fields etc and stopped over to see the plantation of sunflowers which became the first feel of freshness.
The Sunflower Field
Upon reaching Kanatal it was a new experience , a very small town but the scenic beauty it has is breathtaking.
There are few good resorts and also there are few camping resorts and one can choose whichever experience one wants to cherish.
The beautiful Camp site on a bright sunny day
This is the picture of a camp site which was visible from the place where we were staying at. The camps are well equipped and are neat and clean and have lot of adventure activities.
Since the name suggests Tal (Lake) I tried catching up with a few locals and asked them is there was actually a lake out there , but what I came to know was that ages back their elders say that there was but as such there is no Lake as of now.
I was amazed to see that there are still houses made of clay at some places which are really old but people do stay in them as they say that in winters when it snows it tends to keep it warm on the inside.
Next visit was the famous and sacred Surkanda Devi Temple which is located between Dhanaulti and Kanatal.
The Climb
The climb is steep but the moment you reach the top its feels as if you are on the top of the world with a 360 degree view and at a height of more than 10,000 feet.
Mata Surkanda Devi Temple
The above picture is of the new Temple as when we reached there it was being renovated. It is one of the most sacred places of worship and there are locals who come to pray every day.
When we had reached there due to renovation all the idols had been kept in the other room nearby so that the visitors can get the blessings.
Above is the Bell and the Flag that flies high at the Temple.
The next day we visited Dhanaulti another small town just a few km’s away with a few hotels and restaurants. You also have a eco resort out there which is run by Gharwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) which totally runs on solar power.
In The Lap of Nature
You find good food and variety out there and further there is also the ECO park to be visited with beautiful views of landscapes and to give you a feel of a mini trek. You also tend to find a few birds and monkeys jumping on trees , and a lot of flora and fauna.
Dhanaulti also has some very spectacular views to give and on a clear sky you can see the huge Himalayan range.
Playful and A Walk in the Woods
Since it was to be the last day of our trip we headed back to kanatal and decided to have a walk in the kodia forest . It’s a dense forest and you can feel the closeness to nature once you walk a few metres. Tall trees , cool breeze and its just greenery that you see all around giving you that fresh feeling.
The very start itself makes you walk more and more.
Entering the Kodia Forest
We found a few people doing tree crossing activity out there. There are locals out there who arrange for a few adventurous activities.
The next morning was the time to leave the beautiful town and head back to Delhi but for once it’s a beautiful getaway destination to chill out and have a talk with mother nature .
It is a peaceful beautiful town that’s located about 300 km from delhi just about 78 km from dehradun and 38 km from mussoorie . I am really thankful to my friend who had suggested me the place and after visiting there I could tell that the place is a perfect place for a getaway and so wish to visit the place again.
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